How Knicks Can Solve Their Biggest Questions as Playoffs Approach
In a perfect world, the New York Knicks would be hitting their stride as the 2023-24 NBA season enters its final stretch.
Instead, some brutal bouts with the injury bug have this group limping toward the finish line.
The Knicks, who have one of the Association's deepest rosters on paper, have lost nine of their last 13 games as key absences have proved too much to overcome. Their cushion over the play-in tournament field has evaporated, and this potentially special season has a real chance of being spoiled.
And yet, it's not too late to turn things around and produce the kind of campaign this franchise has long awaited. For that to happen, though, this group must conquer some significant challenges.
Get Healthy
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While the Knicks have actually received a few reinforcements of late, they're still awaiting the return of their difference-makers.
When they fell to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, they were down their top three scorers (Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle and OG Anunoby) and their starting center. As much as NBA coaches take the "next man up" approach to covering absences, it's different when the task is actually finding the next four men up.
The good news is that Brunson, their leader in points, assists and three-point percentage, is fighting only a left knee contusion and not something more significant after his scary injury Sunday. The bad news is it remains unclear when they'll get Randle (dislocated shoulder) or Anunoby (arthroscopic elbow surgery) back. The worse news is Robinson (ankle surgery) is even farther away from returning.
New York's two-deep rotation looks as loaded as any at full-strength, but that only matters if the Knicks are actually full-strength. They're hopefully be whole at some point, but the worry is these continued absences will send them sliding further down the standings and potentially into the unpredictable play-in tournament.
Find More Shot Creation
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New York's offense is, statistically speaking, fine. The Knicks are 11th in offensive rating, per NBA.com.
They are great on the offensive glass, sitting first in offensive rebounding percentage and second in second-chance points. When they can't just will their way to buckets, though, things can get a little dicey.
Only the rebuilding Portland Trail Blazers have a lower assist percentage than New York's 58.2. That could be fine if the Knicks were a great isolation team, but they aren't. Their 0.90 points per isolation play puts them in just the 38th percentile.
While New York has scorers and shot-makers, it comes up short in the shot-creation department, which took a hit when the team had to part with both Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett in the Anunoby deal. The Knicks need to find ways to squeeze more off-the-dribble creation and table-setting out of their supporting cast.
Get the Best Version of Julius Randle
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While Randle has often found his way to strong counting stats, the efficiency behind them isn't always the cleanest.
When his shots are falling, and his decision-making is on-point, he's an All-Star talent who demands All-NBA consideration. But when he's laying bricks and piling up turnovers, he's...uh, let's just say not involved in the accolades discussion.
When you hear the criticism that the Knicks need a star to contend for the crown, what folks are really saying is they need someone more dependable and efficient than Randle. When he's healthy, he is as important to this club's success as anyone other than Brunson, and for all the depth New York has amassed, it's still built to travel only as far as those two can take it.
Randle has previously booked two playoff trips, and neither was pretty. His career postseason stats feature an unsightly 34.4/28.3/75.6 shooting slash and more turnovers (3.9) than assists (3.7). If the Knicks are going to make any kind of postseason noise, they'll need Randle at his absolute best.
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